Machines for correction of posture and normalization of weight



Oct. 21, 1958 MACK 2,856,917

MACHINES FOR CORRECTION OF POSTURE AND NORMALIZATION OF WEIGHT Filed Sept. 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l o I F SIQEFSZ INVENTOR.

TTORNEY Oct. 21, 1958 L. L. MACK 2,856,917

MACHINES FOR CORRECTION OF POSTURE AND NORMALIZATION 0F WEIGHT Filed Sept. 1, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT TOR N EY direction; andi a -manner*that it ismovable relative thereto.

United States Patent 2,856,917 MACHINES FOR CORRECTION OF POSTURE AND N ORMALIZATION F WEIGHT Lawrence L. Mack, Darien, Conn. I Application September 1, 1955, Serial No. 531,946 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-33) The invention disclosed in this application relates to machines and particularly to machines for the correction of posture and normalization of weight. 1

An object of my invention is to provide an improved machine for the correction of posture and normalization of weight.

Features of my invention include: the provision of a main frame together with a floating frame the latter having a platform similar to a table or couch and means for oscillating the floating frame and platform as a unit, either substantially longitudinally or with a rocking motion; a provision in connection with the floating frame of a pair of oscillating body contacting paddles movable relative 'to' the floating frame; the provision of means'by which twoeccentrics automatically operate in phase when their associated motor is turning in one direction 'andoperate 180 out of phase when their associated motoris driving in the opposite direction; and a provision by which the contacting pad members associated withthe body contacting paddles maybe spread or pushed together in order 'to become adjusted for the comfort of thepatienti Other objects and features; of my invention will become-apparentfrom a=reading of the' following specification and claims when takentin connection with-thea'ccom- 'panying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of my iHV6l1tlO11. i

, is d Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine illustratin'g'my-inventiony- Figi-Z-is a somewhat schematicviewinside elevation of the: machine of Fig.

thereon and cams also mounted 'thereon';

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary viewin'perspective of oneof thecams of Fig-3 and of the drivernther'efor; i Fig. 5 is a moreor less diagrammatic view inend elevation of-(1)-the-driving shaft-of -F-i-g. 3, (-2)'-one of the eams, and (3) the driver therefor as the-parts aref arrangedwhen the shaft isv-turning ina counterclockwise -Fig.-6 isa view similar-to Fig. 5 but showing the drivdirectiom H i Referring'first to Figs. -1 and -2-', we see 'thatthere'is .shown an exercise table generally designated 10 comprising shaft, the driver and-the camturning in a clockwise frame 70. is supported -bythemain frame 20 in sucha If 'The main frame 20 consists =of'two generally rectangular side frames suchas 21 connected by lateral members, not shown; and

thus' comprises a generally rectangular body: "Withinthe main frame 28, securely attached thereto, and forming a part thereof, are two auxiliary support frames 22 and 23, also comprising generally rectangular bodieswhich support rockingmeans 30 and oscillating means 50, respectively, v The rocking means 30 and the oscillating means 50 fcon'nect" the floating frame 70 to the main frame 20. The floating frame 70 comprises -a-generally horizontal, uphol'st ered, flat platform 71 having a suspended auxiliary support frame or cradle 72 consisting of a generally rectangular body, securely attached thereto carried y var Mi -Hal \l-.

The oscillating means 50 includes a lever arm 51. The lever 51 is connected to and supports the floating frame 70, atone point. The arm 51 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the platform 71 by means of a bearing 52 and is pivotally connected at an intermediate point to the main frame 20 by meansofa bearing 53. The lower end of arm 51 is pivotally connected by means of a generally horizontal link 54 to an eccentric 55 which is rotatably driven by an electric motor 56, by means of a pulley 57, a belt 59 and a pulley 58 (rotatably mounted at 60). When the motor 56 is running,the eccentric 55 rotates about point 60 causing the link 54 to' oscillate in a generally horizontal direction, which oscillation is transmitted through arm 51 to the floating frame 70. The rocking means 30 includes a generally vertical arm 31. The arm- 31 is connected to and supports the floating frame 70, said arm 31 being pivoted on a generally horizontal arm 32. Arm 31 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the platform 71 by means of a bearing 33 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to one end of'arm- 32, as at 34. The end of arm 32"opposite to the end connected to arm 31 is pivotally connected'to the main frame 20 by'mean's" of a bearing 35.: Thearm '32 ispivotally connected, by means of a generally verticallink36, to an eccentric '37, which'is "rotatably'driv e'n by an'e'le'ctric motor 38 by means of a pulley 3 9, a belt 41 and a pulley 40 (rotatably mounted at '42). -"When themotor 38 is running theeccent'ric 37 rotates about the point'42causink link 36*to oscillate iri'a generally vertical direction, which oscillation is transmitted through arm's32 'and'31 tothe-floatingframe70." "It is thus seen that'the floating frame 7(lniay beoscillated' longitudinally in a horizontal plane'by oscillating means 50 and rocked about bearing 52byrocking means "30 either independently or concurrently.

'stricted'to the centerofthe platform 70 as it is'actually shown'in Fig. 1'.

" It'is' also to be understood that 'otherm'earis' for-rocking or vertically oscill'atingth'ef floating 1 frame 70 "may be used,and that 'my inventio'nis 'not restricted to the means i illustratedjiri' Fig. 2 for accomplishing"-this"rockingor 'ver'tic'al oscillationi e For "example, means which would move both the floating frame 70 and main frame '20='as*a maybe used" in place'of means 30.

'unit'in rocking or verticaloscillation' relative to the 'floor,

' "Still referringtoFigs. 1andi2,itis'seenthatthe platform 71' 'is' provided with two laterally disposed paddles "73 'and 74', 'eachpivotally supported by'cradle72so'that the paddles may be oscillated longitudinally relative tothe platform '71 in two different combinations of movement regardless of whether the floating frame 70 is stationary relative to the mainfram'e' 2tl or noti 'By'way of'example, the paddle 73 is carried at' the t'op -of a lever 75'which is pivotally 'con'nected at its lowere'nti to cradle 72 asat 76." The lever 75 is pivotally coniiehted rby means of a generallyhorizontallink 77"t'o'an eccentric 7 8 which "is rotatably driven by an electr'ic motor 7 9 by 'means of a'pulley'iitl, a belt 82anda pulley 81. Re-

it may be seen that the pulley' fls'ltis'earried' on a shaft 83 which not only carlres' the "eccentric" 7 8 previous'lyir eferred to but also carries a second eccentric84'.

lation is transmitted through the lever 75 to the paddle 73. The second eccentric 84 is pivotally connected to paddle 74 by means of linkage (not shown) similar to the linkagecomprising. the link 77 and the lever 75 by which the paddle 73 is connected to eccentric 78. The eccentric 84 is rotatably mounted on shaft 83. On each side of the eccentric 8'4 and secured to the shaft 80 for rotation therewith are a collar 85 and a drive wheel 86. The eccentric 84 is thus disposed between the collar 85 and drive wheel 86 which thus cooperate to maintain the eccentric 84 in position on the shaft 83. The drive wheel 86 has an axially extending lug 87 having a cross sectional shape of a 90 segment of a circle having its center at the center of rotation of shaft 83. This lug 87 cooperates with. a lug 88 formed as a part of the eccentric 84 and having a cross sectioned shape of a 90 segment of a circle having its center at the center of rotation of shaft 83. The eccentric 78 and the drive wheel 86 are both secured to the shaft 83, and are so mounted relative to each other so that when the motor is running counterclockwise, the lug 87 of drive wheel 86 engages lug 88 of eccentric 84 to drive the eccentric 84 so that it transmits oscillating motion to paddle 74, in phase with the oscillating motion transmitted to paddle 73 by eccentric 78. When the motor turns clockwise, the lug 87 of drive wheel 86 engages lug 88 of eccentric 84 so that the oscillating motion transmitted to paddle 74 is 180 out of phase with the oscillating motion transmitted to paddle 73 by eccentric 78.

Secured to the top of each of paddles 73 and 74 are two upholstered pads such as 89 and 89a, and 91 and 91a, respectively, and which complement the upholstery of platform 71 in completing the top surface thereof and which are laterally adjustable relative to their respective paddles and to each other. Thus they may be positioned together as the pads 91 and 91a are shown or may be spaced apart as the pads 89 and 89a are shown.

Removably secured to one end of the platform 71 are a grip bar and foot rest 92, which may be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2. It may be pointed out, however, that the bar 92 is provided with a portion 93 which the patient may grip during the stretching exercis'e, later to be described, and is provided with an upholstered pad 94 on which the patient may at times rest his head, his feet or the lower part of his legs. The lower portion of the bar 92 (designated as 95) is releasably and slidably secured within the platform 71 so that it may be adjusted to any desired position dependent upon the length of the patient. Thus the patient may properly be positioned on the table so that the exercise given by the paddles and the stretching operation may be most effective.

The table is useful in a variety of ways to give passive exercise, to correct the posture of patients, and to normalize the weight of such patients. It performs the functions of four or more tables similar to those Which have been previously considered as desirable. For instance, it is capable of 1) oscillating rapidly longitudinally, and (2) rocking about bearing 52 to move the patient lying on the platform either back and forth or up and down and thereby to induce a healthy circulation. It is capable also (3) of giving a stretching exercise to a patient lying on the platform with the shoulders touching the upholstered paddles 73 and 74. A similar stretching exercise (4) may be obtained with the patient lying on the platform with the thighs touching the upholstered paddles 73 and 74. A twisting and kneading of either the shoulders or (6) .thighsmay be similarly accomplished with the paddles 73 and 74 oscillating 180 out of phase. Other exercises may be accomplished by various other combinations of the movement.

:If it is desired to give such a stretching exercise to the patient upward from the shoulders, or to massage the shoulder portion of the body, the patient may lie upon .the table with the shoulders upon the upholstered paddles 4 73 and 74, and grip the bar 93. Then the motor 79 is turned on in a counter-clockwise direction with the result that the paddles 73 and 74 are oscillated in phase with each other and a beneficial stretching exercise is given to the patient. If it is desired to give a twisting exercise to the shoulders with the subject lying in the same position, the motor 79 is turned on in a clockwise direction with the result that the paddles 73 and 74 oscillate out of phase with each other resulting in a massaging and twisting exercise being givenwhich is highly beneficial. Similar exercises for the pelvic region (designed to relax tension in the entire spinal area, and to free the muscles of the sacroilliac region, making it easy for the patient to assume good posture) is accomplished with the patient turned in the opposite direction so that his or her feet or ankles rest upon the pad 94 and the buttocks upon paddles 73 and 74. A healthful rocking motion may be provided by operation of the motor 38 and a healthful horizontal oscillation may be given by operation of the motor 56.

it is to be understood that the above described embodiments of my invention is given for the purpose of illustration only and various changes from the details of the embodiment illustrated may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for passive exercise comprising a couch.- like main frame; a platform pivotally secured intermediate its opposite ends to said frame; electric motor means for oscillating said platform in a substantially horizontal plane; electric motor means for rocking said platform to and from a horizontal to a non-horizontal plane and back to a horizontal plane; a pair of pivoted levers mounted on said platform; an upholstered pad carried by each said lever; and electric motor means for oscillating; said levers to oscillate said pads substantially in the plane of said platform.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the means for oscillating said platform in a substantially horizontal plane and the means for rocking said platform may be operated either independently or concurrently.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the means for oscillating the platform in a substantialy horizontal plane, the means for rocking the platform, and the means for oscillating the pads may be operated independently, concurrently or in any combination thereof.

n 4. A machine for passive exercise comprising a main frame having a couch-like configuration; a platform pivotally secured intermediate its opposite ends to said .main frame and rotatable about a first transverse axis of said platform; means comprising a first eccentric rotatably secured to said main frame and connected to said platform adjacent one end thereof for rocking said platform about said first axis of said platform; means comprising a second eccentric rotatably secured to said main frame and connected to said platform for rotatably oscillating said platform about a transverse axis of said main frame; a pair of levers pivotally secured to said platform and rotatable about a second transverse axis of said platform; means comprising a third eccentric rotatably secured to said platform and connected to said levers for rotatably oscillating said levers about said second. axis; and an, upholstered pad carried by each of said levers; and separate means for driving each of said eccentrics.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,110,920 Gibson Sept. 15, 1914 2,427,053 Hampton Sept. 9, 1947 2,666,429 Alexander Jan. 19, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 417,550 Great Britain Oct. 8, 1934 

